Objects Database

Kandahar Bindings on 'Popular' Wooden Skis

Accession Number

1237.2015.1

Object Name

Kandahar Bindings on 'Popular' Wooden Skis

Created

08/05/2015

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

08/05/2015

Brief Description

Pair of wooden laminated skis with Kandahar bindings.

Materials

Wood, metal

Dimensions

210(l) x 6.5(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

On skis "49689 2*0 " and inside circle on tips "POPULAR" above mountain logo and Norwegian flag colours.
On bindings "KANDAHAR PATENTS NR. 150058/9. MADE IN NORWAY" " RESVI. " inside inverted triangles

Colour

Skis.....Brown, cream. Bindings....blue, silver

Object Production Place

Norway

Provenance

A nice pair of Norwegian, laminated, wooden skis here in the collection and we thought that a little history of the Kandahar binding might be of interest.
As is often the case with these things, the Kandahar ski binding has very little to do with the Kandahar region in Afghanistan since it was invented by a Swiss gentleman called Guido Reuge who took the name from a Swiss downhill ski race called the "Roberts of Kandahar Challenge Cup" which in turn took its name from a trophy donated by Field Marshall Earl Roberts of Kandahar; a much celebrated army officer from the days of the British Empire. Founded in 1924 by Arnold Lunn and other British skiers, the Kandahar Ski Club also gets its name from the same source and is very much 'alive and well' nearly 100 years later....www.kandahar.org.uk
Most inventions have a paternity and in 1929 Guido Reuge took one or two ideas from ski bindings in use at the time and blended them into his own version, crucially adding the unique tensioning system complimented by a strong heel spring. Lugs on the side of the ski to 'hook' the binding allowing for downhill skiing or released for cross country were also new, bearing in mind that downhill skiing as we know it today, and the bindings that go with it, had yet to be invented.
There were many variations to Reuge's invention, but for several decades to come his 1929 binding was almost universal.
Dating from the 1950's the actual bindings on these skis come courtesy of Gresvigs, a long established Norwegian sports store, and we suspect the skis are of a similar ilk.
Mick Tighe acquired the skis and bindings on a ski trip to Norway in 2015.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

08/05/2015

Condition Check Date

08/05/2015

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

08/05/2015

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